An Artificial Light‐Harvesting System with Controllable Efficiency Enabled by an Annulene‐Based Anisotropic Fluid
Zhen Yu, Hari Krishna Bisoyi, Xu‐Man Chen, Zhen‐Zhou Nie, Meng Wang, Hong Yang, Quan Li
Abstract
Abstract The development of controllable artificial light‐harvesting systems based on liquid crystal (LC) materials, i.e., anisotropic fluids, remains a challenge. Herein, an annulene‐based discotic LC compound 6 with a saddle‐shaped cyclooctatetrathiophene core has been synthesized to construct a tunable light‐harvesting platform. The LC material shows a typical aggregation‐induced emission, which can act as a suitable light‐harvesting donor. By loading Nile red (NiR) as an acceptor, an artificial light‐harvesting system is achieved. Relying on the thermal‐responsive self‐assembling ability of 6 with variable molecular order, the efficiency of such 6 ‐NiR system can be controlled by temperature. This light‐harvesting system works sensitively at a high donor/acceptor ratio as 1000 : 1, and exhibits a high antenna effect (39.1) at a 100 : 1 donor/acceptor ratio. This thermochromic artificial light‐harvesting LC system could find potential applications in smart devices employing soft materials.